Currently, air ambulance patients are exposed to the elements when they’re transferred out of Shepparton Airport.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A local flight instructor is urging Greater Sheparton City Council to apply for federal funding to build an undercover patient transfer shelter at Shepparton Airport.
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Long-time aero club member, flight instructor and Shepparton Airport User Group member Peter Blake said some patients transferred by Air Ambulance Victoria were exposed to rain, wind and extreme heat.
He said he recently witnessed one such transfer.
“A critical patient was moved in the rain and freezing wind while paramedics, ground crew and flight crew all got wet trying to save a life,” he said.
“This is not how a critical regional airport should be managed.”
He said Shepparton Airport played an essential role in air ambulance transfers, emergency services, firefighting, aviation training and regional connectivity.
“These are essential regional services, not luxuries,” he said.
Mr Blake believes an undercover patient transfer shelter would protect patients and staff from the elements.
He said that Round 5 of the Federal Government’s Regional Airports Program presented an opportunity for council to seek funding for the project.
Shepparton Airport is owned by Greater Shepparton City Council, which is responsible for the site’s management and development.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
The Regional Airports Program offers grants of between $20,000 and $5 million for projects that improve aviation safety, accessibility and support to essential services.
On behalf of the Shepparton Airport User Group, Mr Blake said he formally wrote to the council on June 22 urging it to apply for the funding.
Council acting director of infrastructure Janelle Bunfield said council had not submitted an application to the Regional Airports Program Round 5.
She said the council was reviewing the program’s guidelines to determine eligibility, requirements and alignment with the aerodrome’s current condition and priorities.
“Preliminary planning work has previously been undertaken regarding a potential patient transfer shelter at Shepparton Airport, including consultation with Ambulance Victoria,” she said.
“No funding has currently been allocated for the project, and further investigation is required before future works are considered.”
Ms Bunfield said the council would continue to engage with the Aerodrome User Group and Ambulance Victoria to better understand the needs of the airport.
An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said the airport played an important role in connecting rural patients with metropolitan health services.
“Shepparton is used frequently by our planes and helicopters for emergency and non-emergency patient care, connecting rural patients with metropolitan health services, ensuring every patient has access to high-quality healthcare regardless of their location,” they said.
Mr Blake said the airport's role in patient transfers reinforced the need to prioritise funding.
“If there is no airport capital budget and no master planning budget, then available external funding should be treated as urgent, not optional,” he said.
Applications for the Regional Airports Program close on July 28.
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